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New society to improve region's public policy

19 July 2012

A new society will bring together the region and the world’s best public policy minds at the ANU Crawford School of Public Policy.

The Asia and the Pacific Policy Society will create a community of scholars and policy makers around the region and the world by establishing a membership-based association. The Society is being launched by the Hon Malcolm Turnbull MP.

Society President and Director of the Crawford School Professor Tom Kompas said the Society is committed to working with the growing policy community in the Asia Pacific and enhancing public policy in the region.

“The Society is the first international association to link groups working across disciplines on the key economic, environmental and governance issues facing the Asia Pacific region,” said Professor Kompas.

“The Society will not only support scholars and policy makers, but harness and position the most up-to-date research on the region within the mainstream of public policy. Membership will be extended to the large Crawford School community, including its extensive links into Australia and the Asia-Pacific policy world, across academia, NGOs and government. Alumni of the Crawford School and ANU will also form a part of the Society and extend its reach to every country in the world.”

The Society will also publish the journal Asia and the Pacific Policy Studies and is governed by a board of high-profile Society Fellows, including Dr Ken Henry AC and ANU Chancellor Professor the Hon Gareth Evans AC QC.

Professor Evans said the Society and the journal extend the Crawford School’s public policy research, teaching and outreach.

“Modelled on the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, the Crawford School serves and influences Australia and the Asia Pacific through advanced policy research, education, and policy impact,” said Professor Evans.

“The Society and the journal it will produce are testament to the School’s commitment to providing the best thinking on, and enhancing the quality of, public policy in our nation and the region. The Society will build on the School’s position as the region’s public policy school and be an invaluable resource for anyone working on the biggest policy challenges facing the Asia Pacific.”